Forest district approves budget

June 27, 2001|By John Flink.

LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Forest Preserve District's Board of Commissioners has approved a $107 million budget for the coming year.

About 80 percent of it is earmarked for land acquisition, restoration programs and public access improvements, officials said. Most of the money came from an $85 million bond issue approved by Lake County voters in November.

The district also secured $9.9 million in grants, sponsorships and donations.

Infrastructure improvements are under way at several forest preserve properties, including Fox River, Ryerson Woods, Ft. Sheridan, Bonner Farm and Duck Farm.

A new section of the Des Plaines River Trail is under construction between Libertyville and Gurnee. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer on a 3.2-mile section of the 35-mile Millennium Trail, which will connect properties in north, west and central Lake County.